In this scene, ling tries to convince his concubine, Jiang, not to kill him. He tells her that he is a beautiful man and that it is a pity that he married a "boorish woman" . She replies that he saved her life and that she wants to return his favor. She tells him that she will die soon. Jiang tells the empress that he does not love ling and that he will make her emperor if she kills him.